The BLM's actions within the Bishop Field Office are governed by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq. and other laws, including the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1715, et seq.   While these laws generally govern procedures for public participation and comment on Federal actions, the BLM recognizes that it is just good business to keep external customers in the loop with public land management.

The BLM, California State Office has a  homepage with general information about the NEPA process including the NEPA Handbook. The Council on Environmental Quality also has a homepage that may be of interest to you.  They have numerous references to the NEPA process.

Document Types

When the BLM, or anyone else, proposes a project on public lands, the proposal is analyzed to determine how it will affect the environment.  All projects are analyzed prior to approval and all such projects are listed on this page. There are four types of NEPA documents that are disclosed on this page:

• DNA = Determination of NEPA Adequacy (previously known as an AD or administrative Determination). This is a multi-page checklist to determine if a prior NEPA analysis (of the same or similar project) is valid for this project. It determines if environmental and social factors and effects remain the same or not. It then documents that the prior analysis is valid. If not, it would trigger an EA.
• CX = Categorical Exclusion. Certain types of project have been determined to have little or no effect upon the environment and need not be further analyzed under NEPA. A CX is the documentation that this project falls within this category and that none of the exclusions apply.
• EA = Environmental Assessment. This is a concise public document that contains an analysis and discloses impacts for determining whether to prepare an environmental impact statement or a finding of no significant impact.
• EIS = Environmental Impact Statement. This is a public document that provides a discussion of significant environmental impacts and analyzes a reasonable range of alternatives.  A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is released to the public first, followed by a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), and concluded with a Record of Decision (ROD).

The links below will take you to specifics about on-going and completed projects, by fiscal years. Those documents that appear as hyperlinks, link to Adobe Acrobat PDF files. Please call 760-872-5000 if you need further information.  All hardcopy documents are located at the Bishop Field Office.